A Life of Attributes Starting as a Nobleman in the Republic of China Era

He pondered for a long time, then suddenly raised his head, his gaze becoming exceptionally solemn:

"Chen Che, do you know what's needed to unlock these mechanisms of the Mohist school?"

Chen Che shook his head.

"Martial arts," Xu Xiucai said, enunciating each word clearly. "The mechanisms of the Mohist school cannot be broken by wit alone. The core of those eye-suppressing devices is equipped with 'mechanical locks'—a special kind of mechanism that can only be opened using specific internal energy cultivation methods, specific strength, and specific breathing rhythms. If the strength is too light, it won't open; if it's too heavy, the entire mechanism will self-destruct. This is not something a scholar can do."

Chen Che was stunned.

"When the Mohists set up these mechanisms, they had already planned it out—only those with a foundation in martial arts could enter the deepest part of the town. Ordinary people, even if they found the place, couldn't get into the core; even if they did get in, they couldn't unlock the mechanisms; and even if they were lucky enough to open them, without internal energy to protect them, the moment the suppressing force backfired, they would be..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Chen Che was silent for a moment: "So, what do I need to do?"

"The mechanisms of the Mohist school require extremely precise control over the circulation of internal energy; it is impossible to master without ten or twenty years of hard work."

"What should we do then?"

Xu Xiucai remained silent for a long time, as if making an extremely difficult decision. Finally, he slowly spoke:

"There is a place where the complete inheritance of the Mo family's mechanical arts is still preserved."

"where?"

Shaolin Temple.

Chen Che was taken aback: "Shaolin Temple?"

"All martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin." Xu Xiucai's gaze deepened. "But Shaolin's foundation extends far beyond martial arts. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Shaolin Temple assisted Li Shimin in suppressing Wang Shichong and obtained a large number of books from the Luoyang area. Among those books, many were left by the Mohists. Techniques of mechanisms, methods of suppressing objects, and methods of unlocking locks and mechanisms... are all hidden in Shaolin."

He paused, lowering his voice even further: "More importantly, to open the Mo family's mechanisms, one needs more than just knowledge of mechanical arts—one also needs the internal energy cultivation methods of Shaolin as a foundation. The Mo family's mechanisms must be operated using the internal energy of Shaolin's 'Yi Jin Jing' to open them precisely. Using the skills of other schools, they either won't open, or they will trigger the mechanism to self-destruct. This is a kind of... inheritance between the Mo family and Shaolin back then."

"Inheritance?"

"After the decline of the Mohist school, many things were entrusted to Shaolin. There was an agreement between the two schools—the Mohist school's protective charms would be countered by Shaolin's internal energy." Xu Xiucai looked at him. "Very few people know about this. My master went to Shaolin back then and saw that agreement with his own eyes."

Chen Che's breathing quickened: "You mean, I have to go to Shaolin Temple to learn their internal martial arts in order to unlock those mechanisms?"

"It's not learning, it's borrowing," Xu Xiucai corrected. "The Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository preserves a special method—the Yi Jin Jing."

Scholar Xu's face was filled with anticipation and longing: "It will allow you to open those mechanisms. But this person must be trustworthy, and... must be someone destined to be chosen."

Chen Che clenched his fists.

"Mr. Xu, who should I contact regarding the Shaolin Temple?"

Scholar Xu pulled a yellowed page from his notebook and handed it to him. On the page was a line of text written in tiny, almost illegible characters; the ink had faded somewhat:

"Find Jueyuan at Shaolin Temple. He is over seventy years old and is the abbot of the temple. With this token, he will recognize you."

Xu Xiucai then took off a jade pendant from around his neck and placed it on the table. The pendant was small, dark green in color, and had a strange, crooked symbol engraved on it.

"This is something passed down from my master, a token of the Mohist school. Take it to Master Huiming, and he will understand. He will use the foundation of Shaolin martial arts to help you unravel the mystery of the Mohist school."

Chen Che took the jade pendant, his palms slightly sweaty.

"Remember," Xu Xiucai's voice suddenly became exceptionally serious, "Once you arrive at Shaolin, follow Master Jueyuan's instructions completely. The Mo family's mechanisms cannot be broken by brute force. Only Shaolin martial arts are the key to unlocking all of this. If you act recklessly and trigger the self-destruct mechanism, it won't just be your problem—all seven underground sluice gates in Shanghai will be destroyed along with them..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but just gave Chen Che a deep look.

There was worry, expectation, and a sense of relief in his eyes—as if a burden he had carried for decades had finally been handed over to the right person.

"Go," Xu Xiucai waved his hand. "Be careful on the road. The north is not peaceful right now. As a young master from the south, you should be cautious in everything you do. Remember, when you get to Shaolin, find Master Jueyuan and follow his instructions. Only by borrowing the power of Shaolin's martial arts can you reach the deepest part of the seven towns."

Chen Che bowed solemnly and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, Xu Xiucai suddenly called out to him from behind, "Wait a moment."

Chen Che turned around.

The old man pulled a small cloth bag from under the cabinet and handed it over: "Inside are a few purgative pills, a recipe passed down from my master. Put one in your mouth before going to those places; it can ward off miasma and... protect you a little."

He paused again, his voice suddenly becoming very low: "There's one more thing—once you arrive at Shaolin, if Master Jueyuan asks you 'Why did you come?', just say: 'The lock of the Mo family, the key of Shaolin. The Big Dipper divides into seven parts, martial arts serve as the guide.' He will naturally understand."

Chen Che silently made a note of it and nodded.

As he left Zhou Fuji Grocery Store, a gust of night wind made him realize that his back was covered in a layer of cold sweat.

Chen San came forward: "Young Master, how did it go? Did you get anything out of him?"

"I got the answer." Chen Che tucked the jade pendant and cloth bag into his pocket, took a deep breath, and said, "Chen San, we're going on a long trip."

"A long trip? Where to?"

"Henan. Shaolin Temple."

Chen San's eyes widened: "Shaolin Temple? Young Master, you're going to learn martial arts?"

Chen Che didn't answer, but simply looked up at the sky. A few stars hung scattered across the night sky, dim as if they might be extinguished at any moment. He remembered the Big Dipper that Xu Xiucai had mentioned, the seven eyes that had been suppressed for over two thousand years, and his grandfather's unfulfilled wish.

"The lock of the Mo family, the key of Shaolin," he murmured, clutching the jade pendant in his arms.

"Let's go back and pack our things. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"So urgent?"

"We have to hurry." Chen Che turned and walked out of the alley, his steps much faster than when he came. "Mr. Xu said that those mechanisms are not something ordinary people can solve. Only Shaolin martial arts are the key to unlocking all of this."

A night breeze blew across the Huangpu River, carrying a damp coolness. The Customs House in the distance was brightly lit, and its clock struck again, nine times heavily.

Chen Che walked quickly ahead, his mind replaying Xu Xiucai's last words—

The lock of the Mohists, the key of the Shaolin.

He finally understood why his grandfather hadn't been able to accomplish this task. Without the foundation of Shaolin martial arts, even if he found those key points, he wouldn't be able to reach the deepest part.

And now, this burden has fallen on his shoulders.